Curated Guide to Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida & Nusa Ceningan
What to Do - Indonesia | 15 minutes
CURATED GUIDE TO NUSA LEMBONGAN, NUSA PENIDA AND NUSA CENINGAN
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The guide to where to stay, things to do, what to eat and more.
I included Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida on our trip itinerary mainly because we wanted to go diving near Nusa Penida at Manta Point to swim with Manta Rays. I am so glad that we visited these islands because not only did we get to swim with some spectacular mantas, but we also fell in love with these special islands.
“While these islands are only a 40 minute boat ride from Bali, you feel worlds away with the white sand beaches, crystal clear waters, and simpler way of life.”
- Lindsey Farrah
While these islands share the same culture as Bali, they are very different. The culture on these islands is even more relaxed and simpler which results in an even more zen experience. On Nusa Ceningan there’s no cars as they don’t fit over the bridge that connects it to Nusa Lembongan, so as you can imagine there is no such things as traffic here like there is in other parts of Bali. The simpler way of life really suited my partner and I, as we loved escaping into the natural beauty here.
So, if you are planning to trip to these wonderful islands, these are the places I stayed, the things I most enjoyed, and more.
Rocky Fast Cruises
To get to Nusa Lembongan & Nusa Ceningan we booked a trip with Rocky Fast Cruises
which was an easy company to book with. The boat departs from Sanur, and from there it is a 30 minute boat ride to Nusa Lembongan. We had a good experience with this operator as they fulfilled everything we paid for and they were prompt. There are several other operators in the area that you can go with, however I chose Rocky Fast Cruises due to reading several positive reviews online. Find more details about how to get to Nusa Lembongan in my comprehensive ‘how to’ here.
Tigerlily’s Boutique Hotel
Tigerlily’s is the epitome of what you imagine when you escape to beautiful Bali. It was hands down our favourite resort while visiting Bali, and there’s a ton of reasons why. This property embraced everything I look for in a hotel; it was cozy, eco-chic, small, the property was gorgeous, the staff was lovely and I felt like I could’ve stayed forever. It was just very special and unique!
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Accomodation at any price
If Tigerlily’s doesn’t seem like your style then check out my list of accomodation to stay at on Nusa Lembongan & Nusa Ceningan here. I scoped out great locations for any budget.
Explore Nusa Lembongan & Nusa Ceningan on a Scooter
One of our favourite things we did while visiting these islands was riding around on our scooter and exploring. There is so much to see; beautiful beaches, mangroves, temples and other hidden gems. We just wandered around and found some unique & empty spots that we fell in love with. The best part about these islands are that they are very small with few roads, so it’s very easy to explore without getting lost. Also, traffic doesn’t even exist here.
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Nusa Ceningan
If you are on Nusa Lembongan you absolutely have to visit Nusa Ceningan. This tiny neighbor might be smaller but it packs a lot of great beaches and restaurants into a small space. Simply rent a scooter and head to the bright yellow bridge that connects Nusa Lembongan to nusa Ceningan and you’re there. There are tons of amazing beaches on this island as well as some really adorable places to eat.
Scuba Dive
One of the main reasons we decided to venture to Nusa Lembongan was because there is some of the best diving in Bali located right off this island. We had high hopes to see some gorgeous fish and possibly if we were really lucky, some manta rays. We got extremely lucky and we got up close and personal with tons of Manta Rays.
We booked a dive trip with Siren Diving
who was a wonderful outfitter. Since the weather was a bit questionable during the week of our visit, we waited until we were on the island to book our dive trip. Normally I book well in advance, but they were really easy and accommodating to a last minute booking. The staff there was very easy to deal with and they were super laid back.
Read about my awesome dive experience
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Beaches
There are so many gorgeous beaches on Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan, you just have to go exploring to find them. The best thing to do is to rent a scooter and venture out, riding along the perimeter of these islands and finding which beach suits you best.
If you are seeking powder white sand and crystal clear turquoise water, these beaches will not disappoint. While we enjoyed the beaches on the main island of Bali, they didn't compare to the beaches on these tiny islands.
If you are looking for some guidance, check out my full list of my favorite beaches on Nusa Lembongan & Nusa Ceningan.
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Devil’s Tears
While Devil’s Tears get pretty crowded with tourists, there’s good reason. This awesome cliff has water flowing in and out, and when the water collides it explodes out with a boom, creating the tears of the devil. It’s really unique to check out and I recommend stopping by to see it while on Nusa Lembongan.
Nyoman’s Warung
This simple but beautiful beachfront restaurant is a local's favourite and was recommended to us by the manager of Tigerlily’s Boutique Hotel (read about Tigerlily’s here). She said that is was the best place on the island to get fresh, tasty fish.
Nyoman’s is a great little restaurant, with sand floors and simple but nice decor. The thing I loved most about this restaurant is that it’s a family owned and run business; the owner catches the fish and his wife does all the cooking. They feature fresh, locally caught fish prepared in traditional Balinese methods. It makes for a very fresh and very tasty meal.
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Seabreeze Ceningan
Seabreeze Ceningan is a little gem located on the tiny island of Nusa Ceningan. If you are wondering what warrants a tiny island, Nusa Ceningan is only 8 square kilometers. To get to this adorable island from Nusa Lembongan there is a gorgeous yellow bridge that is wide enough to fit two scooters side-by-side if you are a good driver; but it doesn’t fit any cars.
Seabreeze features some really funky decor including hammocks, swings overlooking the turquoise water, a pirate ship and more. There are bean bag loungers, tables and barstools- so whatever level of comfort you re looking for, you can find.
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Le Pirate
The food here is mae from scratch on site and comprises of locally sourced ingredients. Everything here is so fresh and it shows! I got the spicy fried chicken served with a tangy coleslaw, and we split a side of tortilla chips and guacamole. It was tasty!
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Tigerlily’s
We stayed at this hotel and enjoyed breakfast here are few times as well as dinner one night. They offer a fresh, locally sourced menu with an eclectic mix of local Balinese dishes as well as tasty pizzas. I especially enjoyed breakfast here as they have a lot of great smoothies on their menu.
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Blue Corner Bar & Restaurant
My partner and I discovered Blue Corner one night when we decided to walk along the beach to watch the sunset. As we were walking along Jangut Batu Beach we noticed Blue Corner right away as they had beanbag chairs placed on the beach with small tables. These comfy bean bags are in the prime location to watch the sunset, so we went ahead and grabbed a comfy chair and ordered some Bintang beers.
The food here is casual and nothing unique, as the highlight of dining here is 100% the view. On a clear night you can see much of Bali, including Mt. Agung right from your bean bag chair. Once the sun sets Blue Corner kicks up the music and turns on their gorgeous, hanging lights that sprawl over the property. This is one of the more lively spots to visit at night; although lively for Nusa Lembongan is still very chill.
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